Senate advances legislation bolstering FEMA disaster response efforts

U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) have offered responses regarding the Senate advancing legislation they sponsored targeting bolstered Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster response efforts.

The Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery and Resilience Act seeks to enhance disaster response efforts for underserved communities facing barriers to securing federal aid following a disaster.

“Recent emergencies in Michigan and across the nation have shown clear disparities in our federal disaster responses. From severe weather events to the ongoing pandemic, we must ensure that marginalized and rural communities do not feel the impact of natural disasters more severely than others,” Peters said. “This commonsense bill is critical to ensuring no community has difficulty obtaining assistance from the federal government following extreme weather events and other emergencies.”

The measure would establish the Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion (OCREI) within FEMA, officials noted, increasing access to and improving disaster assistance quality for minority, rural and disabled communities.

“From wildfires to floods, natural disasters disproportionately impact marginalized and underserved communities, and these communities often face additional challenges in receiving federal disaster assistance,” Padilla said. “I’m glad to see this legislation move forward to help close these gaps and improve equity in disaster relief efforts. This bill will empower FEMA to work closely with underserved communities in California and across the country and help reduce disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance.”